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National market update

Pending Home Sales Stabilize, Remain Above Year-Ago Levels

Washington, February 02, 2010 Pending home sales have leveled from a market swing driven by response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®. More...
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December Existing-Home Sales Down but Prices Rise; 2009 Sales Up

Washington, January 25, 2010 After a rising surge from September through November, existing-home sales fell as expected in December after first-time buyers rushed to complete sales before the original November deadline for the tax credit. However, prices rose from December 2008 and annual sales improved in 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors®. More...
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Realtors® See a Decade of Dramatic Developments

WASHINGTON, December 30, 2009 At the beginning of the 21st century, most home buyers had never viewed a home online; the three top home sale marketing methods were yard signs, newspaper ads and open houses; and nearly nine out of 10 buyers financed their purchase with a fixed-rate, 30-year mortgage. What a difference a decade makes. More...
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National housing indicators

Existing home sales ()

5.45 millions units*

Existing home median price ()

$178,300

Housing Starts ()

557,000 units*

New home sales ()

National economic indicators

Home ownership

4th Qtr 09

67.2%

4th Qtr 08

67.5%

The homeownership rate in the fourth quarter 2009 (67.2 percent) was not statistically different from the fourth quarter 2008 rate (67.5 percent). In the South, the homeownership rate was lower than a year ago, while no other region showed any significant change from corresponding fourth quarter 2008 rates.

New home sales

Dec 09

-7.6%

Nov 09

-9.3%

Sales of new one-family houses in December 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 342,000. This is 7.6% below the revised November 2009 estimate of 370,000

Source: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

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Regional market updates

View market statistics for your region.

Click on the links below to view data from two different industry sources. Choose information on local prices & state sales from any of 178 metropolitan housing markets prepared by the National Association of REALTORS® or information on sales & price activity from local area markets in 25 states prepared by Clarus MarketMetrics.

Local Sales & Price Activity

Catherine Wintz

Home Ownership matters…to people, to communities, and to America. Why? • For every two homes sold, one job is created in the U.S. • Each purchase generates as much as $60,000 in economic activity over time. Read more

Buying is now cheaper than renting in 74 percent of the nation’s largest cities. Low home prices and “rock-bottom” interest rates as well as tax advantages of homeownership are the reasons why it’s now cheaper to BUY a 2-bdrm home than to rent one. Check out this CNN Money article with the details. Read more

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, statements and/or ideas expressed in this Message Section do not reflect the ideas, policy, position, views or opinion of Move,Inc.

Consumer tips & hot properties

Chimney Maintenance for Warmth and Safety

Chimney maintenance and a fireplace inspection can make the difference between warm safety and drafty danger.

Exterior Remodeling Proves Best Bang for Your Buck, Realtors® Report

Washington, December 17, 2009 Despite a slow market and a slight decrease in the resale value of most remodeling projects, Realtors® report that the smartest home improvement investments may also be some of the least expensive. Results from the 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report show that small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable at resale, according to estimates by Realtors® who completed a recent survey. More...Read more

What is Califonria Chic? I found it in Encino.

Have you considered Encino? Let me WOW! you. I consider this California chic, modern, green, luxurious. Enjoy the eye candy.

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, a real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, real estate radio, realtor.com® local community reports and local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by local MLSs and the National Association of REALTORS®.

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